Data Issue a Possible Deal-Breaker for Google's Latest Smartphone, the Nexus 4 Some might find this an amazingly useful phone -- save for one glaring flaw.

If you've read my Android coverage before, you know I can't stand that Google and its hardware and carrier partners still haven't figured out a way to provide timely updates on phones after you buy them. In many cases, Android users never get to try the latest and greatest versions of Android because the operating system has become so fragmented over the years.

That's why I love Google's Nexus program, which makes sure devices always have the newest Android features without having to jump through any hoops from carriers or third-party manufacturers. And even though Nexus phones have never been blockbuster devices with consumers, each new generation has consistently been better than the last. They easily hold their own against the most popular smartphones out there.

That holds true with this year's flagship phone from Google, the Nexus 4, which was built by LG and will go on sale November 13 for a very reasonable $299 for the unlocked version. (T-Mobile will also sell the Nexus 4 for $199.99 with a two-year contract.)